Philibert

Philibert (c.608–685), important abbot and founder of Jumièges. Born in Gascony and educated by his father (who became a bishop) and by Ouen, Philibert became a monk in St. Ouen's monastery of Rebais, was abbot for a short time, but resigned because of his inexperience and the monks' unruliness. He retired to Neustria, where Clovis II gave him land at Jumièges, where he founded the abbey in 654. Owing to his active opposition to Ebroin, Philibert was imprisoned at Rouen, and then retired to Poitiers and to the island of Heriou (Poitou), where he founded the monastery of Noirmoutier. The place-name S. Philibert de Grand-Lieu (on the mainland nearby, south of Nantes, recalls his residence in this area. Later he founded monasteries for monks at Cunault (near Saumur) and Luçon and one for nuns at Pavilly. Philibert had died and been buried at Heriou; his relics, after various removals, rested at Tournus from 875. He was mentioned by Alcuin as a notable monastic founder. Feast: 20 August, kept by English monasteries connected with Jumièges after the Norman Conquest.

Bibliography
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• AA.SS. Aug. IV (1739), 66–95; R. Poupardin, Monuments de l'histoire des abbayes de saint Philibert (1905)